Meaning “where your soul resides” or “the place where you know things and hold the entirety of life’s experiences,” Na`au is the culmination of Brian Hirata’s life and culinary career. Hirata, who has hunted, fished, farmed, and foraged in the islands from when he was a child, gained an appreciation and profound respect for the outdoors and cultural values of Hawai`i. Combining his classical training in European cooking techniques, his exposure to a broad range of regional cuisines, and extensive knowledge of local ingredients, Hirata’s pop-ups serve as a means to help preserve Hawai`i's culinary and cultural identities.
Na`au is Chef / Owner Brian Hirata’s papai`ai (or cooking house), where the familiar and unfamiliar converge to discover new ingredients in a space that feels like home - someplace warm, friendly, and comforting so that guests would be more open to new encounters. The aspiration is for guests to leave with a truly authentic cultural experience, an enhanced cognizance of what makes Hawai`i so special, as well as a feeling of gratification after having a memorable meal.
“I believe that when you lose a part of your heritage, you tend to struggle with moving forward thoughtfully because you don’t have a good understanding of where you came from in the first place. I think we lost this food connection, in a sense, and I want to see if we can find a way back to it…” says Hirata.
By sharing his love for the land, the awe for the ocean, his fond childhood memories, and reverence for our islands’ unique heritage and culture, Chef Brian hopes to stimulate dialogue to increase Hawai`i’s presence in the global culinary milieu.
Information on all pop-ups with links to tickets can be found on naauhilo.com.
Na`au is Chef / Owner Brian Hirata’s papai`ai (or cooking house), where the familiar and unfamiliar converge to discover new ingredients in a space that feels like home - someplace warm, friendly, and comforting so that guests would be more open to new encounters. The aspiration is for guests to leave with a truly authentic cultural experience, an enhanced cognizance of what makes Hawai`i so special, as well as a feeling of gratification after having a memorable meal.
“I believe that when you lose a part of your heritage, you tend to struggle with moving forward thoughtfully because you don’t have a good understanding of where you came from in the first place. I think we lost this food connection, in a sense, and I want to see if we can find a way back to it…” says Hirata.
By sharing his love for the land, the awe for the ocean, his fond childhood memories, and reverence for our islands’ unique heritage and culture, Chef Brian hopes to stimulate dialogue to increase Hawai`i’s presence in the global culinary milieu.
Information on all pop-ups with links to tickets can be found on naauhilo.com.
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